Editing Kerbogha (section)

== The First Crusade ==

In 1098, when he heard that the Crusaders had [[Siege of Antioch|besieged Antioch]], he gathered his troops and marched to relieve the city. He departed from Mosul on 31 March.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brosset |first=Thomas |date=2024-04-24 |title=The First Crusade and the Failure of Kerbogha's Campaign from Mosul to Antioch (March–June 1098): A Re-evaluation |journal=Al-Masāq |volume=36 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=281–303 |doi=10.1080/09503110.2024.2342205 |issn=0950-3110|doi-access=free }}</ref> On his way, he attempted to regain [[Edessa]] following its recent conquest by [[Baldwin I of Jerusalem|Baldwin I]], so as not to leave any Frankish garrisons behind him on his way to [[Antioch]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Runciman|first1=Steven|title=A History of the Crusades I: The First Crusade|date=1951–52|publisher=Penguin Classics|isbn=978-0-141-98550-3|page=191}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brosset |first=Thomas |date=2024-04-24 |title=The First Crusade and the Failure of Kerbogha's Campaign from Mosul to Antioch (March–June 1098): A Re-evaluation |journal=Al-Masāq |volume=36 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=10–11 |doi=10.1080/09503110.2024.2342205 |issn=0950-3110|doi-access=free }}</ref> For three weeks he pointlessly besieged the city before deciding to continue on to Antioch. His reinforcements could have perhaps ended the Crusade before the walls of Antioch, and, indeed, the whole Crusade was perhaps saved by his time wasted at Edessa.{{According to whom|date=January 2025}} By the time he arrived, around June 7, the Crusaders had already won the siege, and had held the city since 3 June. They were not able to restock the city before Kerbogha, in turn, began his siege.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

During the siege, on 27 June, [[Peter the Hermit]] was sent as emissary to Kerbogha by the Crusaders to suggest that the parties settle all differences by a duel. Presumably feeling his position secure, Kerbogha did not see this course of action as being in his interest, and he declined.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brosset |first=Thomas |date=2024-04-24 |title=The First Crusade and the Failure of Kerbogha's Campaign from Mosul to Antioch (March–June 1098): A Re-evaluation |journal=Al-Masāq |volume=36 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=18–19 |doi=10.1080/09503110.2024.2342205 |issn=0950-3110|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Meanwhile, inside the city, [[Peter Bartholomew]] claimed to have discovered the [[Holy Lance]] through a vision. This discovery re-energized the Christian army. At the same time, disagreements and infighting broke out within the Atabeg's army. Kerbogha's mighty army was actually made up of semi-nomadic Turkmen, adding to regular armies and levies from Mosul, [[Al-Jazira (caliphal province)|Jazira]], Palestine, and Damascus,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brosset |first=Thomas |date=2024-04-24 |title=The First Crusade and the Failure of Kerbogha's Campaign from Mosul to Antioch (March–June 1098): A Re-evaluation |journal=Al-Masāq |volume=36 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=13–14 |doi=10.1080/09503110.2024.2342205 |issn=0950-3110|doi-access=free }}</ref> and the internal quarrels amongst the Emirs took precedence over any unity against the Franks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Brosset |first=Thomas |date=2024-04-24 |title=The First Crusade and the Failure of Kerbogha's Campaign from Mosul to Antioch (March–June 1098): A Re-evaluation |journal=Al-Masāq |volume=36 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=281–303 |doi=10.1080/09503110.2024.2342205 |issn=0950-3110|doi-access=free }}</ref> The only thing that united his allies was a common fear of Kerbogha's real goal, which was the conquest of all their lands. If Antioch fell to him, he would have been invincible.<ref>Jones, Terry., Ereira, Alan. "''Crusades''". [[Penguin Books]], 1996. p. 43</ref>

On 28 June, when [[Bohemond I of Antioch|Bohemond]], the leader of the Christian army, decided to [[Battle of Antioch (1098)|attack]], the Emirs decided to humble Kerbogha by abandoning him at the critical moment.<ref name=":0" /> Kerbogha was taken by surprise by the organization and discipline of the Christian army. This motivated, unified Christian army was in fact so large that Kerbogha's strategy of dividing his own forces was ineffective.<ref>''Gesta Francorum:The Defeat of Kerbogha'', excerpt online at [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gesta-cde.html Medieval Sourcebook], accessed November, 2008.</ref> He was quickly routed by the Crusaders. He was forced to retreat, and returned to Mosul a broken man.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}